Delhi takes Pakistan PM Nawaz at his words: Indian FM

SYDNEY: Indian External Affairs Minister, Salman Khurshid said that he believes Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif wanted to make peace and establish good ties with India, but for that he would have to demolish the infrastructure of terrorism, Geo News reported.


In an interview to an Australian newspaper, Salman Khurshid said, “We talk to Pakistan periodically and in terms of personal gestures we receive great warmth,” he said. “But on-the-ground reality and the results of our meetings are very disappointing.”
However, with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last month vowing to go the “extra mile” to make peace with India, Khurshid said Delhi would take him at his word.
“Pakistan has a lot of very, very difficult issues to deal with at home,” he was quoted as saying. “Our view is that we should give them time, not at our cost, of course, but that we should give them the benefit of the doubt. When Mr. Nawaz Sharif says he wants peace and good relations with India, we take him at his word.”
Khurshid was also optimistic about future relations with fellow Asian power China, with Delhi viewing Beijing as “rivals who are also partners.” But Khurshid said a festering Himalayan border dispute between the two giant neighbours remained a key area of concern.